NoBa Capital
NoBa Capital is a venture capital firm focused on investing in ambitious startups that are changing the future of work. Their mission is to positively impact 30 million workers by 2030. They invest in companies providing solutions that improve access to work opportunities, career development, diversity and inclusion, financial stability, wellbeing, and flexibility, ultimately benefiting both workers and employers. They focus on companies that Engage workers and employers, Enable them with digital tools and improved skills and Empower them through independent work and flexibility. NoBa Capital employs a high-conviction, hands-on approach to early-stage investing. They establish relationships throughout the venture lifecycle and tailor their investment strategies and support based on the company's stage. They provide active board involvement and are particularly interested in supporting scalability. They have three investment programs: NoBa Spark, NoBa Elevate, and NoBa Scale. NoBa Spark supports idea-stage to launch, offering hands-on 0-1 support and collaborating on new business model innovation within their portfolio. NoBa Elevate focuses on pre-seed investments, helping companies transition from early build to product-market fit. Applications for Elevate are launching in November 2025. NoBa Scale invests in seed rounds, including leading rounds, helping companies scale from product to growth.
Oxford Capital Partners
Oxford Capital Partners invests in high-growth, early-stage companies across the UK, focusing on backing exceptional founders with innovative ideas and disruptive technologies. With over 25 years of experience, they have invested over £500 million in over 100 companies, providing capital from pre-seed to growth stages. The firm emphasizes its ability to identify and support entrepreneurial successes from their earliest stages to later growth, making them a valuable partner for startups seeking to scale. They aim to provide individuals, families, and institutions with access to high-potential investment opportunities. Their strategy is centered around identifying and nurturing disruptive technologies and business models, particularly in sectors that benefit from the knowledge cluster around Oxford. They look for companies with strong growth potential and the ability to scale, offering both financial investment and strategic support. Oxford Capital offers products and services that enable individuals, families, and institutions to participate in and benefit from investment opportunities. Oxford Capital positions itself as a partner to founders, providing not just capital but also expertise and access to a valuable network. They are based in Oxford, leveraging its unique ecosystem to find and support innovative companies across the UK. Their commitment to early-stage ventures and their experience in guiding companies through various growth stages make them a prominent player in the UK venture capital landscape. They operate through funds such as their EIS (Enterprise Investment Scheme) funds, offering tax advantages to investors, while directing capital to UK-based startups. Oxford Capital targets sectors driven by innovation, like technology, science and AI driven businesses.
Passion Capital
Passion Capital is an operator-led VC fund focused on backing outstanding European founders in AI, FinTech, and Risk. They invest early, often before product or revenue, prioritizing founder passion and vision. The firm emphasizes hands-on, collaborative partnerships and has pioneered plain English term sheets.
Change Ventures
Change Ventures focuses on backing ambitious Baltic founders at the pre-seed and seed stages. They provide initial investments ranging from €100k to €500k, offering hands-on support to help startups achieve product-market fit. A crucial aspect of their strategy involves leveraging a deep network of later-stage investors and partners to facilitate follow-on funding and scaling opportunities for their portfolio companies. They seek teams with the potential to build globally scalable businesses and prioritize investments in founders with the grit and determination to succeed. Their primary investment criteria center around the team's capabilities and resilience. They target local Baltic founders in Estonia, Latvia, or Lithuania, as well as those from the Baltic diaspora globally.
Jonathan Hollis
I invest in UK startups qualifying for EIS raising a late seed or A round.
Mountside Ventures
Mountside Ventures is positioned as a leading accelerator and advisory firm in Europe, focusing on optimizing the fundraising process for both startups and investors. They aim to be the first point of contact for founders and funds seeking capital, operating across the entire venture value chain from pre-seed to growth stages. Their approach involves offering accelerator programs, providing interim CFO and fundraising advice, and connecting startups with a network of venture capital firms, family offices, and corporate venture capital firms. They also work with venture capital funds, accelerating fund managers and identifying promising managers for Limited Partners, in addition to building connections for Family Offices. Mountside Ventures focuses on supporting ambitious entrepreneurs to become the next generation of technology leaders. Their model revolves around leveraging their experience from building early-stage startup propositions at Big 4 firms, indicating a deep understanding of the challenges faced by early-stage companies. They claim to have advised startups that have raised over £500m with a combined valuation of £3bn. The firm's strategy seems to be two-fold: direct support to startups through fundraising advisory, and also through acting as an intermediary between startups, VCs, LPs and Family Offices. They run free accelerator programs funded by corporates, VCs and government organisations. For more mature companies they offer interim CFO and fundraising support and growth equity advice and debt advice. The firm claims to have facilitated over £210m in funding for their clients. Mountside Ventures appears to be a hybrid model, combining accelerator, advisory and placement agency services, all focused on facilitating the flow of capital within the European startup ecosystem. They are also a B Corp.
Ugly Duckling Ventures
Ugly Duckling Ventures (UDV) focuses on backing Nordic founders at the pre-seed and seed stages. Their investment strategy centers around providing capital, know-how, and real-world application to early-stage ventures. They aim to be active GPs, leveraging their experience as builders and business angels to help startups scale rapidly. UDV emphasizes building relationships with founders, valuing transparency, and offering straightforward communication. They take a hands-on, operational approach, actively engaging with their portfolio companies to prepare them for growth. A key differentiator is their GPs-only model, ensuring that portfolio founders work directly with experienced partners rather than junior account managers. Furthermore, their established network within the Danish startup community provides access to investors and resources that can assist portfolio companies.
Zero Carbon Capital
Backing visionary founders in Europe with pre-seed and seed investments in deep tech climate solutions that redefine industries by reducing costs and emissions.
7percent Ventures
7percent Ventures focuses on backing determined founders solving significant problems with the potential for 200x returns. They seek to invest in technologies and products that will become indispensable in ten years, aiming for breakthrough companies and technologies rather than incremental market iterations. The firm looks for moonshots, indicating a high-risk, high-reward investment strategy. They aim to invest in solutions to problems which impact a lot of people. With experience as ex-founders in both the U.K. and U.S., the firm provides expertise and capital through the networks they've co-founded. Their guiding principle is to help, not hinder, startups, empathizing with the challenges founders face due to their own operational backgrounds. They believe the venture capital journey is best for big risk, big outcome businesses – startups with exponential growth potential and sector-defining change. The firm name is based on the idea that a good early-stage growth rate is 5-7% a week.
One Planet Capital
Invests in UK-based climate tech businesses (AI, software, hardware) tackling environmental challenges, with a focus on SEIS/EIS-aligned companies in sectors like energy tech, recycling, transport, and B2B SaaS. Targets pre-seed/seed-stage startups with evidence of solving major climate problems and proof of customer value. Funds range from £25k to £500k.
Concept Ventures
Concept Ventures invests in early-stage startups with a focus on unconventional, high-conviction ideas. They prioritize founders with strong domain expertise and a clear vision, often backing them before broad market validation or traction. The fund emphasizes 'first-cheque' investments and supports founders through the pre-seed and early stages with tailored, founder-centric backing.
Emerge Education
Emerge Education is a pre-seed fund focused on democratizing access to opportunity by investing in early-stage founders building the future of work and learning. The firm aims to be a catalytic partner, providing not only capital but also access to a community of 100+ experienced operators in the future of work and learning space. Their investment approach centers on identifying ambitious founders with a desire to learn from those who have successfully navigated similar challenges, supporting them on their journey to becoming global category leaders. The firm believes in providing hands-on support and being mission-aligned with their portfolio companies from day one. Emerge Education's strategy involves leveraging its extensive network of venture partners, covering a wide range of skills, business models, and customer types relevant to the future of work and learning. By connecting portfolio companies with these experienced operators, Emerge aims to accelerate their growth and increase their chances of success. This community-driven approach is intended to offer early-stage companies valuable insights and mentorship that goes beyond traditional financial investment. They seek pre-seed and seed founders who are building innovative solutions that will shape the future of how people learn and work. The fund is committed to supporting companies with the potential to scale and become global leaders in their respective categories. Emerge Education positions itself as more than just a source of capital; they aim to be a true partner, offering strategic guidance and operational support through its network and dedicated team.
Mercuri VC
Mercuri VC is an early-stage venture capital fund investing at the intersection of media, entertainment, and technology. The firm focuses on backing outstanding entrepreneurs developing tech-driven products for the new age of enterprise and the digital lifestyle of the consumer. A key aspect of their strategy is an engaged approach, adding value to their portfolio companies, often taking board seats post investment. Mercuri's investment thesis prioritizes vertical integration, IP defensibility, and human-led expression, especially in the generative media space. They seek companies that rebuild the creative value chain around AI, rather than simply applying AI to media. They aim to find companies that unlock new creative processes and build AI-native systems. Mercuri emphasizes responsible investing with a commitment to strong data policies, transparent AI practices, diversity and inclusion, and sustainability. They aim to reach net zero emissions for scope 1 & 2 by 2025, reduce scope 3 emissions by 50% by 2030, and achieve full net zero by 2040. They are a certified B Corp and co-founder of Reframe Venture, among other partnerships and initiatives. Mercuri lives by its values: integrity, equality, courage, passionate curiosity and responsible citizenship which inspire our team culture and inform our investment process. The name Mercuri is inspired by the Roman god of commerce and communication, reflecting their focus on technology that transforms how people connect, create, and consume.
BackFuture Ventures
Backfuture Ventures is an early-stage, network-driven venture fund focused on guiding SaaS founders through their initial stages of growth. The fund emphasizes the importance of its 'crew,' viewing itself as founders at heart and valuing the nurturing of ideas and lasting connections. Backfuture is committed to supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs, specifically targeting bold individuals building the future of B2B SaaS.
EcoMachines Ventures
EcoMachines Ventures is a London-based boutique investment company with a global reach, focused on early-stage investments. They look for entrepreneurs and businesses building exciting technologies with the potential to scale in large, proven markets. The firm aims to support teams actively and tailored to the needs of each business, offering more than just financial support. They are open to companies at seed stage or later levels of investment. When evaluating potential investments, EcoMachines emphasizes the ability of companies to clearly articulate the problems they are solving, the barriers they face, the required resources, and their achievable plan. This suggests a focus on businesses with well-defined strategies and a clear understanding of their market and operational challenges. The firm provides equity investment, access to a network of industry experts, brokering corporate linkages, and syndicating with other investors. This multi-faceted approach indicates a commitment to actively supporting portfolio companies beyond just capital infusion, aiming to facilitate growth and strategic partnerships.
Firestartr
Firestartr invests in globally ambitious digital entrepreneurs at the seed stage, helping them scale to Series A and beyond. They target companies leveraging lower "cost to experiment" and Internet-based go-to-market strategies to build disruptive Internet and software businesses. Beyond capital, Firestartr provides support for sustainable growth, drawing on their entrepreneurial successes and operational experience with leading technology companies. Their domain expertise and network of advisors aim to propel companies to subsequent funding rounds. Firestartr operates as a venture platform, syndicating investments with a curated network of domain experts. Their flexible pledge structure is designed to benefit both entrepreneurs (one line on the cap table) and investors (deal choice, tax advantages like EIS, and no lock-in). They emphasize adding 'smart' to money, assisting early-stage companies in key areas of business building.
Martlet Capital
Martlet Capital provides patient capital and operational support to exceptional founders, helping companies scale from first-round through to exit. They emphasize value-add beyond capital, including operational VC backing via EMV Capital.
No Label Ventures
No Label Ventures focuses on backing immigrant entrepreneurs building companies in Europe from day one. The firm believes that the act of immigration itself is inherently entrepreneurial, requiring individuals to take risks, rebuild their lives, and bet on themselves. Immigrants possess unique advantages, including humility, determination, and the ability to ignore societal labels. Recognizing the significant contribution of immigrants to unicorn companies in the US and UK, No Label aims to identify and support this talent early, before it gains mainstream recognition. They aim to be the first institutional capital for immigrant founders.
Playfair Capital
Playfair Capital invests exclusively at the pre-seed stage in the UK and Europe. They aim to provide an 'unfair advantage' to founders, supporting them from the earliest stages to Series A and beyond. Their investment strategy is sector-agnostic but leans towards contrarian approaches. They seek visionary founders with 'hustle, heart, and humility' who are building durable foundations for growth. Playfair prides itself on offering more than just capital, providing significant support and emotional intelligence to their portfolio companies. They also have a strong focus on addressing the gender imbalance in venture capital through initiatives like their female founder network.
Techstart Ventures
Techstart Ventures focuses on investing in companies with "unique insights, global ambition, obsessive iteration." They aim to provide first cheques up to £750k, plus follow-on capacity, primarily at the inception to pre-seed stage. They are active in leading, co-leading, and selectively co-investing in rounds. The firm concentrates its investments in Scotland & Northern Ireland, suggesting a geographically focused strategy to support local entrepreneurial ecosystems. Their investment approach seems to be highly selective, looking for companies with the potential to scale globally while deeply rooted in iterative development and possessing unique insights. Techstart Ventures' portfolio exhibits a range of companies spanning various sectors, reflecting an opportunistic approach to early-stage investing within their geographic and stage focus. The fund actively participates in follow-on rounds, indicating a commitment to supporting its portfolio companies as they grow and scale. Recent follow-on rounds in companies like Cloudsmith, Neurolabs, and Valla indicate a focus on supporting companies through multiple stages of growth and leveraging their network to bring in later-stage investors. Their investment philosophy highlights the importance of disruptive thinking and a rapid development cycle.
Tony Bolland
Most Excellent Ventures focuses on seed-stage investments in AI-driven B2B SaaS companies. They aim to partner with mission-driven, street-smart founders who are building radically innovative solutions in large, attractive markets. The firm's investment philosophy centers on providing more than just capital; they strive to be true partners by leveraging their experience as former CEOs who have successfully scaled and exited software companies. This operational expertise allows them to help founders navigate the challenges of building and scaling their businesses, providing guidance on sales team development, marketing engine creation, and overall strategic execution. Their ultimate goal is to help their portfolio companies achieve significant outcomes, including unicorn status and substantial returns for both founders and investors.
Crane Venture Partners
Crane Venture Partners is an early-stage venture capital firm that focuses on backing ambitious founders building foundational technology companies. They invest at the earliest stages, from inception through seed, and provide strategic guidance and go-to-market expertise throughout the company's journey. They are 'First to believe. Last to leave,' indicating a high-conviction, long-term investment approach. They aim to be deeply involved as trusted partners.
Hoxton Ventures
Hoxton Ventures is a European venture capital firm with a Silicon Valley mindset, focused on finding and building Europe's best early-stage tech startups into large, category-defining companies. They prioritize backing brilliant people and products, particularly young or first-time founders who are technical or domain experts with a mission to address fundamental problems. Hoxton Ventures believes great companies are built by great teams, not VCs, and replicates successful strategies from Silicon Valley in the European market. They invest at fair terms, reserve capital for follow-on investments, and aim for a 10-20% ownership position. They have a deliberately anti-thematic approach, recognizing that future winners often emerge from new and initially non-obvious market categories. Hoxton Ventures actively encourages portfolio companies to tackle the US market early, leveraging their extensive Silicon Valley network to facilitate access to senior relationships. They are comfortable with the inherent imperfections of startups, prioritizing massive scale potential over minimizing early-stage risk. Hoxton Ventures emphasizes a hands-on, value-add approach, providing introductions, assisting with key hires, offering market intelligence, forging strategic partnerships, and resolving operational challenges. They aim to offer sage perspective gained from navigating multiple market cycles and provide honest feedback. They seek to maximize upside potential for their investments. Hoxton believes diversity is achieved through actions not words. They are a work in progress.
Octopus Ventures
Octopus Ventures is a large and active venture capital investor in Europe focused on investing in people, ideas, and industries that will change the world for the better. They prioritize investments in areas where they can make the biggest impact: building a more sustainable planet, empowering people, and revitalizing healthcare. They aim to invest £10 billion by 2030 in industries bringing about positive change and seek to back founders with purpose who are building revolutionary solutions. They look for companies tackling significant global problems, such as eliminating carbon footprints, creating cancer vaccines, building the next phase of the internet, and charting a greener approach to space travel. They focus on companies with strong values and contribute to a more equitable landscape. They focus on building long-lasting relationships with founders, investing as early as an idea on a page and supporting at every stage of growth. They invest across B2B Software, Bio, Climate, Consumer, Deep Tech, Fintech, and Health, offering hands-on support. Octopus Ventures is looking for founders who are great storytellers with a clear vision, focused on solving society’s biggest problems, not just building products, they also value diversity in founding teams. Octopus Ventures is also a B Corp certified company. They also run a mentorship program to match the founders and senior leaders from their portfolio companies with executives and operators in their network.